The Duchess of Cambridge celebrated
incredible baby news on the eve of Valentine’s Day after it was revealed that
her former private secretary, Rebecca Priestley (neé Deacon), has welcomed her
second child with husband Adam Alexander Priestley.
Rebecca, who married Adam in 2017, gave birth to a son, whom they have
named Patrick Michael Walter Priestley, but will be known as Paddy. Whilst the
news was announced on Sunday, Paddy was born on 27 January.
This is the couple’s second son. Back in 2019, they welcomed their
firstborn, who they honoured with a very regal name – William Michael Alexander,
but is known as Billy. Rebecca was employed as Kate’s former private secretary
from 2012 to 2017. She worked for the royal family for a total of ten years,
before stepping down two summers ago.
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Rebecca and Adam attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding
Rebecca was considered the Duchess’ right-hand woman. Her duties
included organising official programmes and engagements, and ensuring Kate was
briefed on who she would meet. She also travelled all over the world with the
Cambridges, joining them on tours to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Prior
to joining William and Kate’s team, Rebecca worked for Prince Harry’s charity
Sentebale.
Around the same time that she announced her resignation in spring 2017,
Rebecca tied the knot with Adam in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, an
exclusive venue only available to those with a direct link to the royal family.
The bride wore a beautiful cowl-necked wedding gown with her hair swept back in
an elegant up-do.
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Rebecca worked for Kate until 2017
A few months after she quit, Rebecca returned to the palace in October
2017 to be awarded the Royal Victorian Order at a Buckingham Palace investiture
ceremony. The honour, which was presented to her by Prince William, is for
people who have served Her Majesty or the monarchy personally.
She set up her own company upon leaving the royal household. A listing
filed by Companies House in 2017 showed Rebecca registered her own private
company, RAP Consulting and Communications. The nature of the business falls
under “public relations and communications activities” and the office
is based in Fitzrovia, central London.
Rebecca is listed as the director and
“person with significant control”, meaning she holds 75 per cent or
more of the shares and voting rights in the company. She also has the right to
appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors of the company, while
her husband Adam is listed as the company director.
